Ian Cockbain half-century secures playoff qualification for Adelaide Strikers

The Gloucestershire batter, who only joined the Strikers on January 13, scored 71 runs off 42 balls to help his side chase down 161 with 15 balls to spare

Adelaide: Sydney Sixers 161-7, Adelaide Strikers 165-2 - Adelaide Strikers won by eight wickets

Ian Cockbain scored a half-century as Adelaide Strikers defeated Sydney Sixers by eight wickets to secure playoff qualification.

The Gloucestershire batter, who joined the Strikers on January 13 as a replacement signing for Rashid Khan, finished unbeaten on 71 (42 balls) and also took two catches.

The result completes a remarkable turnaround for Peter Siddle’s side, who won just one of their seven matches in 2021. However, since the New Year they have been almost unstoppable, winning five matches – including their past four – to secure a top-five finish and head into the playoffs as one of the teams to beat.

Sydney Sixers were forced to battle hard for the first 10 overs of their innings as economical spells from Siddle and Fawad Ahmed restricted them to 70 runs.

Ahmed dismissed Josh Philippe for 22 during this period and three balls after drinks, the Strikers had their second as the dangerous Moises Henriques was bowled by Matt Renshaw for 17 (14 balls).

^{Matt Renshaw scored 50 off 31 balls [Sarah Reed/Getty Images]}

Two overs later, Ahmed had two more, the veteran spinner removing Jack Edwards and Daniel Hughes (caught Harry Nielsen) with back-to-back deliveries to reduce the Sixers to 83 for 4. He finished with figures of 3 for 16.

However, the three-time champions soon wrestled back momentum with Justin Avendano and Dan Christian smashing a quickfire 63 runs (33 balls) for the fifth wicket before the latter picked out Cockbain at long-on (bowled Henry Thornton) at the end of the 18th.

Avendano brought up his half-century off 27 balls with a six in the 19th before being removed by Siddle (caught Cockbain) in the final over for 52 (29 balls). Sean Abbott also fell before close as Sydney Sixers posted 161 for 7.

In reply, Adelaide Strikers raced 49 for 1 at the end of the powerplay – Henry Hunt (15) falling to Ben Dwarshuis to bring up the Sixers bowler’s 100th Big Bash wicket – and continued their ferocious chase with Cockbain and Renshaw in the middle.

Together, they blasted 53 runs off 35 balls to sweep up Adelaide’s 10th Bash Boost point before Hayden Kerr brought the partnership to an end two balls before drinks, bowling Renshaw for 50 (31 balls).

Unfazed, Cockbain continued his march in the company of Jonathan Wells and wrapped up the win with 15 balls to spare. The pair added 67 runs (47 balls) for the third wicket, with Wells sealing the deal with a boundary. He finished unbeaten on 27 off 23 balls while Cockbain scored 71 runs off 42 balls, including five fours and four sixes.

Todd Murphy (0 for 22 off four) and Jackson Bird (0 for 11 off two) were the only Sixers bowlers to concede fewer than nine runs per over.

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